1 Corinthians 16:15 “ I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)”
The grip that addictions can have on people today can be heartbreaking and sometimes hard to believe. I have seen people on life support systems hanging on for dear life still taking puffs their favorite smoke through a hole in their throat. As crazy as it may seem, these people sometimes will not admit that they are controlled by a sinful, harmful substance. You see, there is something in their life to which they are totally addicted.
One of our most faithful youth workers gave her testimony to our church. She shared how an addiction to alcohol starting at age 15 had totally ruined her life. She tearfully admitted that her teenage son became an alcoholic because of her. We were also shocked when she revealed that the same son committed suicide, because his own mother would not give up an addiction to help save her son.
Paul tells in today’s Scripture of Christians of the house of Stephanas who were so committed to ministering for Christ that the word used to describe them is addicted. This is the only place in the Bible this word is used. These people could not help but to habitually minister to the saints. They were consumed with doing what God wanted, to help people serve the Lord better. God’s will had such a strong hold over their life that it could only be described as “an addiction to the ministry.”
Most times we think of addiction as a bad word. Today we see it can be good. How would your commitment to Christ be described? Do you live each day for Christ? Do you crave for the chance to serve your Saviour? Become an addict for Christ, He’s all you need!
Bro. Ed Schwarz | Assistant Pastor
Clays Mill Baptist Church | Lexington, Ky
